No sustainability without participation. A case study of three transition labs in Gothenburg and citizens in the city ’ s environmental and climate goals ’ role

Abstract

Mitigating the impacts of climate change has become a global responsibility where both nation states and local municipalities are tasked with contributing to a sustainable transition of society. Making citizens involved in this transition has the potential to accelerate this process and at the same make it more legitimate. This study aims to understand how transition labs in Gothenburg work with citizen participation and how participation can contribute to the city reaching its environmental and climate goals. To do this, a transdisciplinary approach has been utilised through a collaboration with civil servants at Gothenburg's Environmental administration. Context is provided by laying out previous research in participatory methods such as citizens’ assemblies and urban living labs. This previous research shows a need to increase participation while remaining wary of potential problems relating to the legitimacy of participatory methods. A theoretical framework consisting of transitions theory, deliberative democracy and participatory democracy is used as a frame of reference when reviewing empirical data. Empirical data consists of qualitative interviews with six respondents from three different transition labs. The results of the study show that there is potential to increase participation in the city's sustainable transition and that the transition labs believe this would be favorable to help reach the environmental and climate goals. While this may be desirable, the study also shows a number of hindrances making participation less accessible.